Automatic latch



Feb. 5, 1929.

S. E. THOMPSON AUTOMATIC LATCH Filed April 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,429

s. E. THOMPSON I AUTOMATIC LATCH Filed April 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 577345551 5 gwmznl ioc I! mm/1. EJWOMRWI Patented Feb. 5, 1929..

UNITED STATES SAMUEL E. rno vrrson, or Income, IDAHO. 1

AUTOMATIC LATCH.

Application filed April 8,

This invention relates to an automatic latch, and has for its primary object the construction of a latch-with duplex latching mechanisms, one at all times in latching position and capable, whensubject to an impact, to automatically release 'the other latching mechanism for movement toward latching position. I v 7 v An object of the invention is theprovisio'n of duplex latching mechanism so'designed and associated that the automatic operation of either one is dependent upon the position of the other mechanism. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanisms functioning to latch a gate from both sides, thereby providing a more effective latching'connection between the gateand its support.

A feature of the invention is the novel manner of constructing the bolts and. mounting the same so that each mayhave three movementanamely a rectilinear movement corresponding to latching and unlatching positions, a lateral movement functioning to release certain devices, and a rotary movement to bring the bolts into latching arrangement so that the same cannot be tampered with when in latching positions.

Beside the above, my, invention is distinguished in the arrangement of a device mounted for displacement automatically operated by the usual impact to which a gate is subject to move to position to release the latching mechanism, but capable when in another position to hold the latch in an un latching position, thereby enabling the 'user to control the operation of the'mechanism by regulating the amount of impact created in the closing ofthe gate; i

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with. the accompanying drawings, wherein r Figure 1. is a side elevat'ionof myautoinaticlatch shown in applied position; I

Figure 2 is horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation, r Figure l is a sectional view on theline 44 of Figure 3; I V

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 is a perspective View of one end portion of the latch;

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating 1927. Serial No. 182,128.

the latch designed to be secured to metal I gate; r Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective View;

Figure 10 is a sectionalview on the line 10-10 of Figure 8. o 1 1 Again referring to the drawings illustrating two of the many constructions of my invention, and more particularly to Figure, 1 illustrating the latchfdesign to be'secured to a wooden gate, the numeral 1 designates'a frame illustrated ofa simple form and'constructed from strap iron bent to conform to the standard 2 of the gate 3. The" parallel sides 4 of theframe are extended a predetermined distance, and secured to the plates 5, and in turn are secured to thejbars 6 of'the gate. The sides 4 are provided with the ears 7 that cooperate with the slots 8 in the bearings 9 to accommodate movementsfof the bolts 10. Attention is called to the fact that. the relative size of the openings 11 inthe ears andthe slots 8 are such as to allow the bolts to have relative lateral movements toward and away from each other, rectilinear or sliding move;

ments,jand rotary movements for purposes hereinafter described. Each bolt has secured thereto a collar 12 and has abutting relation with one endof a coil spring 13,. the other end of which abuts theears 7 associated therewith. The spring 13 constantly acts to urge the-bolt toward latching position, that is to say into position to en gage the fence post 14. v

A very important feature of my inven tion is the designing of a device automatic in its operation to release the'bolts so that both may move to a position toembrace opposite sides of the post 14 whenthe latch has been subject to an impact or shock created in the closing or slamming of the gate. This device in one of its forms consists of a plate 15 mounted for sliding movements in the guide flanges 16 that are struck from the frame. Particular attention is called to the fact that this plate 15 is provided with a pair of openings 17and 18 spaced apart a distance slightly more than the distance between the boltswhen the latter are in their normal positions. In other words, when one of the bolts is projected through an opening, the other opening is slightly displacedfrom the end of the remaining bolt so that the abutting relation between the rt a plate and bolt will hold the latter in a retracted position. Leaf springs 19 secured to the inclined wall 20 of the bearings engage the bolts to normally hold the latter in the position .just described.

To destroy this relative arrangement of the parts as heretofore described, it is necessary to subject the bolts to relative lateral movement so as to increase the distance between the bolts to correspond to the distance between the openings so that the inactive bolt may be free to be projected through its corresponding opening to assume a latching position and cooperate with the other bolt to effectively embrace the fence post and thereby prevent the gate from swinging in either direction. It is, of course, understood that this displacement of the bolts may be accomplished manually, but I have found it is an advantage to accomplish tois automatically by taking advantage of the impact between the active bolt and the fence post to give the required movement to the plate to properly align the opening with th inactive bolt.

To manually re-set the various parts, each bolt is provided with a crank or handle 21 terminating in a loop 22. By gripping the handle 21, a bolt may be retracted which, when fully retracted, allows the springs 19 to function to return the bolts to their nor- I mal relative positions with one of the bolts out of registration with its associated opening, and due to design of the bolts and their associated parts either bolt may be retracted.

Projecting from the frame is a keeper 23 also provided with a loop 24 positioned to align with the loop 22 when the bolts have been partially rotated in their bearings, hen this positionof the parts is accomplished, an ordinary padlock or other securing element may be passed through the loops for securing the parts together.

The construction shown in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive is identical with that just described, with the exception that a bolt 25 is passed through the sides of the frame to draw the same into tight engagement with the metallic pipe 26 that forms a portion of the frame of the metal gate. The co-' operation between the bolt 25 and the yoke portion 27 of the frame provides a proper bearing or support for the frame so as to prevent the necessity of an extra support for the frame, which would in this-particular case be impractical due to the flexibility of the wires 28 forming a portion of the gate.

In summing up, the construction of the latch is such that the same may be very readilysecured in place upon the various constructions of gates now in use, and when in place will effectively engage both sides of a fence post to substantially secure gate to a post, and this is accomplished in a manner that the impact created in the closing of the gate is utilized to displace that At times it ma be advisable to orevent operation of the latch, and if this is neces sary the operator can accomplish this desired result by controlling the travel of the gate toward closing position.

Of course, it will be understood that the bolts may be mounted in variousother manners than illustrated for relative movements and the interengagement between certain parts accomplished in various other ways and, therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner except as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim as new is 7 1.111 a latch structure, a pair of bolts mounted for sliding movement and for relative movement toward and away from each other, a slidably mounted plate operated in the relative movements of the bolts to act when in one position to permit one of the bolts to assume protracted position and to hold the other in a retracted position and when in another position to allow both bolts to move to a protracted position.

2. In a latch structure, a pair of bolts mounted to slide longitudinally to active and inactive position and further capable of relative movement toward and away from each other, yieldable means for giving such 7 relative movements .to the bolts, a plate positioned to normally hold one of the bolts man inoperative position and actuated by the remaining bolt to be moved thereby to a position to release the inoperative bolt for movement to latchmg POSllllOIl,

8. A latch comprising a frame, a pair of bolts mounted on the frame for sliding movement and for lateral movement toward and away from each other, coil springs acting to slide the bolts to latching position,

'yieldable means forcing the bolts toward each other, and a plate slidably mounted on the frame to assume two positions, one allowing one of the bolts to move toward latching position and to restrain the other bolt from movement to latching position, the other position allowing both bolts to move to latching position.

i. A latch comprising a frame, a plate slidably mounted on the frame and provided with a pair of openings, a pair of springpressed lat-eh bolts positioned on the frame to be forced through said openings when the plate restrain one of the bolts in unlatching position when the plate is moved to another position V 5. A latch comprising a frame, a pair of spring-pressed bolts constantly urged toward latching position, and a plate moved to one position and to mounted on the frame and coacting with to give said rectilinear movements to the bolts, a laterally movable guide and stop plate mounted on the frame,"said plate when laterally moved forming a stop for a bolt when retracted and being movable-by the protracted bolt to permit protraction of the retracted bolt, and securing means moving to operative position upon the bolts being rotated.

7. A latch comprising a frame, bolts mounted on the frame to have sliding latching movements, lateral relative movements and rotary movements, springs'for sliding the bolts to latching position,'yieldable ele-' ments acting upon the bolts, for accommodating relative lateral movements of the bolts, a- ,plate mounted on the frame for movement and provided with a pair of openings registering with the bolts when one of the bolts has been given a lateral movement, a keeper projecting from the frame and provided with 'a loop, said bolts each provided with a loop moving into registration with said keeper loop when the bolts are rotated, for the reception of a locking element. I

8. In a latch structure, a pair of bolts mounted for longitudinal relative movement, means urging the bolts toward protracted latching position, and a laterally movable element engaging one bolt when protractedand arranged to hold the remaining bolt in retracted position, said element being laterally movable by the protracted bolt to release the retracted bolt and permit protraction of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL E. THOMPSON. 

